308 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



determined the spy to turn that way, as most frequented by his friends, 

 — and by that heaven-directed turn, impending ruin was averted, and 

 the lives of thousands saved." From Pine's Bridge, the adjutant-gen- 

 eral of the British army followed the Crum Pond road, which passed the 

 house of Mr. Staats Hammond. The son of this gentleman, David 

 Hammond, of North Castle was living in, (1847.) at an advanced age. 

 He related, that on the day Andre was taken, he was standing at the 

 door of his father's residence, upon the Crum Pond road, when he ob- 

 served a person approaching on horseback, leisurely walking his horse. 

 As he rode up, he observed the stranger to be closely enveloped in a 

 light blue swan's down cloak, with high military boots, and a low-crowned 

 and broad brimmed hat on his head. The animal he bestrode was a 

 beautiful bay, bitted with a handsome double snaffle bridle; the mane 

 particularly about the head, being thickly matted with burs. The stran- 

 ger immediately asked for a drink of water. It deserves to be noticed, 

 in connection with this incident, that Mr. Hammond's father — who was 

 lying, at the time, badly wounded on the floor — caught a glimpse of the 

 stranger, whom he pronounced to be a spy, from the fact of his being 

 enveloped in the manner described. 



David Hammond, having procured a drinking vessel, accompanied by 

 his sister, led the way to the adjoining well. Here the girl drew the 

 water, which was offered to the stranger, who requested David to hold 

 the bridle whilst he drank. After satisfying his thirst, he turned toward 

 Mrs. Hammond, and asked the distance to Tarrytown; she replied, 

 "Four miles." "I did not think it was so far," said he. 



At Chappequa, in the vicinity of Underbill's tavern, the spy encoun- 

 tered several Quakers. From them he again inquired the road, at the 

 same time asking whether any troops were out below, &c. 



At the foot of the Chappequa roads the adjutant-general selected that 

 which leads to the river. Following this, he came out in the Albany 

 post road, near the village of Sparta. He had now securely passed 

 about eleven miles of the neutral ground, and approached within a few 

 hundred yards of the Hudson without interruption, and probably felt 

 himself beyond the reach of detection. 



A little north of Tarrytown, the road crosses a small brook, (now 

 called the Andre brook. ) A few rods from this spot a period was put to 

 the journey of the spy and the progress of the treason. 



On this fated morning some of the inhabitants of Westchester had by 

 agreement taken their arms, and proceeded to the neighborhood of this 

 brook and bridge, to prevent cattle from being driven down towards 

 New York, and to seize as a loyal prize any such cows or oxen as might 



